San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-02-10
OUR AUSTIN LETTER.
AUSTIN, TEXAS, Feb, 8, 1887.

ED!roR FREE Press: Since the
ending of the Senatorial contest the
Goth Legislasurc have got to earnest
work. Mr. Tate's Reformatory bill
has occupied the attention Of this
body for the past week. 1t has been
burlcned with sundry amendments,
but yot. when completed, will be n
great improvement on our present
system of treatment of youthful
criminals. The biggest fight has
been made ut every step Of the bills
progress against the appropriation
provided for in the bill, The origi'
nal bill provides that $4,000 be APP
propriated to carry out the provisions
of the bill. Mr. Tate, the author of
tho bill, insisted TINT the amount was
not too large, yet it has been cut
down to $4,000. This is not thought
TO be in excess Of the demand for the
establishment of tie Reformatory.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Nc
Gehco providing changing Of the
plan of counting the vote at our gen
eral elections. was substituted by the
committee to whom the bill was re-
fcrred. The substitute retains all
the features of Mr.. McGchoo's bill,
and makes some minor change as to
detail If Mr.. McGehec fails to &C
complish anything else during this
Legislature his work has already
been sufficient to give the plaudits of
well done etc" His abilities are
appreciated at every step. When
resolution was introduced to require
the Speaker to appoint Il committee
to visit the State Pcnitontiaries, the
Speaker honor8 Hays county and the
10th Legislature by appointing Mr..
McGehco one of three who composed
that committee.
The bill appropriating 100000 to
tho relief Of the drouth sufferers has
become II law, and the Governor has
appointed on the committee to visit
the section needing pecuniary assist
ance, Gen. Walter \. Lane of Mar
shall, Mr.. VIM. Ferguson, editor of
the Times at San Antonio, aud Judge
II. p. league of Terrell. The com
missioners left here Sunday on their
of mercy.
The Moore insurance bill has
brought large number of insurance
men to the Capitol. They threaten
to leave the State in the event the
bill becomes a law. But their threats
do not seem to have much weight
with this Legislature.
Mr.. G:rwooI's bill relative to the
freezing out of the home insurance
companies (bcncyulCntl will have u
hard fight II IT passes at all There
are many objections to this bill and
am disposed to think that it should
not become law
The fight going ON between the
Chief Clerk If the House and the eX-
pert printer clerk OF ;he printing
board Is Disgusting in the extreme.
Severe charges a-a Eeing made
against each other ami there i no
telling where IL viii end.
The officers Of the two houses are,
with a possible exception OF one OF
two. Efficient men. Iui viii aid
greatly towards advancing le-i~la-
ton and Ee,ping things uut OF chaos.
Some uf tbUu ryed Spcrial mention
and ] sllal gave @ zen picture oi them
in some luIur, .ett.r.
One Of the Ilgst ~Taoalc, made
here durug tLs senatorial contest
uas made 10y Dr B.ari :fa member
from Fauniu. 90 ~ecuudiHg the nom
nation 81 Gen. MaX,y lu tiIe caucus.
I viil sind % 81 You jH-t IS d Wa
delivered II is ~LHIt- and / hope
ven WIZ ave Dc crLT Sc IL Illus